Decorative piping



Dec. 22, 1931. A- HOWARD 1,837,775

-- DECORATIVE PIPING Filed Jan. 17, 1931 //V VE/V 70/ 7.

W 4:. zmwq A *zjzmw 5 7 Patented De 22, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALBERT L. HOWARD, OF BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HAMILTON-WADE COMPANY, OF BROGKTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS DECORATIVE PIPING Application filed January 17, 1931. Serial No. 09,388.

This invention relates to decorative piping strip which is adapted to serve various purposes in ornamenting or finishing upholstery,

' leather goods, and the like. The improved piping of my invention comprises a strip of leather or other sheet material perforated along its body portion and wrapped about a relatively strong core which is referably of a decorative nature, the core eing protected by the strip but also being visible through the perforations. The invention contemplates the manufacture of this piping in various forms, such as welting, belts or straps to serve various purposes.

Piping or finishing strip heretofore available has not been well adapted to withstand the unequal strain imposed upon it when bent into place about curves and has been likely to crack or check after a short period of use. The head portion thereof, moreover, is likely to soil very quickly and thus becomes unat tractive, this soiling also acting to impair the utility of the piping. The primary object of my invention herein is to produce a new and improved piping with novel characteristics which will eliminate these objections.

In accordance with my invention, I employ a strip of leather or like material which is flexible, may be waterproofed if desired, and

is capable of taking an ornamental finish. The core may be of any suitable material and of any desired shape, and I preferably coat it with a glazing or proofing material, such as celluloid, which sizes and strengthens the core and hardens its surface, thus aiding it to retain its clean and attractive appearance and resist wear and the elements. The strip is perforated and wrapped about the core in a manner protecting the core but also exposing portions thereof for decorative purposes. I may also pink or notch the edge portions of the strip more particularly to facilitate its flexibility. A piping thus constructed is unusually attractive and useful in many forms and for many purposes and will retain these qualities to a far greater degree than pipings heretofore known.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated certain specific embodiments of the invention but it will be understood that the invention can be otherwise embodied and that the drawings are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims appended hereto being relied upon for that purpose.

' Fig. 1 illustrates a flexible strip which I use in constructing my improved piping; I

Fig. 2 illustrates the strip with its edges pinked 0r notched;

Fig. 3 illustrates the strip as also perforated along its body portion;

Fig. 4 illustrates the manner of wrapping the strip about the core of the piping;

ig. 5 illustrates a piece of the finished pi ing constructed in the form of a finishing we Fig. 6 illustrates a methodof constructing the piping in the form of a strap or belt;

Fig. 7 illustrates a further method of con structing the piping in the form of a finishing welt; and

Fig. 8 illustrates a further modified form of the invention. a

The improved piping or piping strip of Hg invention may be constructed in various manners and in various forms to serve many purposes. -All of these forms, however, embody certain of the novel features heretofore pointed out which render this piping more eflicient and superior than pipings heretofore known and without sacrificing any of their features of strength and durability. This superiority resides more particularly inthe decorative quality of the piping and in its increased service and utility. The decorative attraction is especially pronounced because of the contrast afforded between the core and the strip in which it is wrapped, and the greater utility and service are quite largely due tothe improved construction as here inafter defined.

Referring first to Figs. 1-5 of the drawings, I shall define a finishing strip or welt piping comprising one form of my invention, and also one method of constructing the same. I first select suitable leather or the like of a flexiblenature and cut the same into strips- 10. I then pink the edges of the strip at 12, perforate its body portion at 14, wrap the strip about a core 16 to form a bead 18, and cement the two edge portions into face to face contact to provide a laterally-extending flap 20. The finished article, shown in Fig. 5, is of a very flexible nature and may, therefore, be used in places which'require bending and twistin of the piping. It will be understood that t is flexibility is more particularly facilitated by the perforations 14 and pinked edges 12, as illustrated by the curved portion thereof in Fig. 5.

The core 16 may be a cord of strong material of circular or other cross section, and it may be preferably treated or coated with a suitable substance to render it superior in performing its intended functions. A coatlng of celluloid, for example, sizes the core, strengthens it, renders it waterproof, prevents the absorption of dirt or stains, protects against wear, and aids in retaining the original flexibility and good appearance. This coating may also be of a nature to give desirable colorand a glazed finish to the core and thereby provide contrasting colors with the strip material 10. The perforations 14 may furthermore be of any desired shape or configuration and while the core is visible through the perforations for decorative purposes, it is so protected by the strip as to re-' tain its attractive appearance and utility during the useful life of the piping. The particular utility of the perforations 14 and notches 12 in allowing the piping to be bent without wrinkling or bulging is illustrated in Fig. 5, this feature being especially useful in making sharp curves such, for example, as is required in lining buttonholes and the like. Thus while my improved piping is superior in increased flexibility and appearance, it fully retains the strength heretofore secured by wrapping a supporting and holding core within a suitable strip.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated how my invention is equally applicable to the formation of decorative belts or straps. In this construction a strip 30 is provided with two rows of perforations 32 and the two strip edges are folded over two cores 34 in a manner exposing the cores through the perforations and forming two beads 36 similar to the bead 18. The two strip edges are folded down onto the central portion of the strip between the two rows of perforations and a binding strip 38 is placed thereover and'sewed to the folded strip. This piping is more particularly useful for belts, handbag straps, and the like, and the details of its construction may be similar to that described in reference to Flgs. 1-5.

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated a piping 40 very similar to that shown in Fig. 6 except that the perforations 42 are of different shape. This piping may be used in the same manner as that of Fig. 6 or it may be severed longitudinally by a zigzag cut 44 to form two finishing strips or welting of the nature shown in Fig. 5. When thus severed, it'will be noted that each half 46 has all the attributes above defined in reference to the piping of Fig. 5.

While I have above defined a piping using a cord or round core, it will be understood that the invention is by no means thus limited and that the term piping as used herein includes within its scope finishing strips of all descriptions intended for all varieties of uses. In Fig. 8 I have, for example, shown a piping or finishing welt using a flat folded fabric 50 for a core. This fabric may be a strip of decorative leather or imitation leather and the same is folded over upon itself and the main strip 52 is folded thereover to form a bead 54, the two edge portions being then cemented together in face to face contact, as in the piping of Fig.- 5. The intermediate portion of the strip 52 is perforated at 56 in the same manner and for the purposes above defined. The lapped edge portion may be pinked at 58 or left plain as at 60, the pinking, however, being preferably performed after the fol ing and cementing operation instead of 1313101 to the folding operation, as in Figs. -15.

It is believed that the construction, use and advantages of my invention will now be apparent. My improved method of construction not only provides a su erior article adapted to a large variety 0 uses but an article which may be made in a variety-of decorative characters and so constructed that this attractive decorative appearance will be maintained throughout the useful life of the piping.- The novel construction of the piping also renders it strong and so flexible that it may be readily applied to uses heretofore impossible without placing the same under injurious and breaking strains.

Having thus described my invention, what I'claiin as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A decorative piping in commercial strip form, comprising a strip of flexible material perforated along its body portion and wrapped upon a relatively strong and solid core which is visible through the perforations, said strip having its edges secured in predetermined relation to the core.

2. A decorative piping in commercial strip form, comprising a strip of flexible material provided with longitudinally spaced perforations between its edges, a solid core circular in cross section and having a finished surface Wrapped in said strip in such manner that the surface of the core is visible throu h the perforations, the edges of the strip being secured in position to form a substantially flat unit.

3. A decorative piping in commercial strip form, comprising a strip of covering material having longitudinally spaced perforations therein arranged in parallel rows, and a pair of solid cord-like cores enclosed within said strip in such manner that the surfaces thereof are visible through the perforations, the edges of the strip being secured in position between the covered cores.

ALBERT L. HOWARD. 

